Union survey finds bullying rife at Latrobe and Kentish Councils that share workforce

Tasmania’s Local Government Minister wants a deeper examination into union claims of a “toxic” workplace culture at two northern councils.

TASMANIA’S Local Government Minister wants a deeper examination into union claims of a “toxic” workplace culture at Latrobe and Kentish councils.

The councils share resources including staff and an Australian Services Union survey found almost all of the staff interviewed - about a quarter of those on the books - had witnessed bullying.

There has also been a big turnover of staff at the councils with 45 leaving in less than three years.

Minister Roger Jaensch said he had asked the Director of Local Government to seek more information on the matters raised by the union on the back of complaints by councillor Shanye Allison.

Parliament

“Bullying, harassment and discrimination are unacceptable in any forum and it is the responsibility of each council to provide a safe working environment and to ensure appropriate policies and procedures are in place to deal with such matters,’ Mr Jaensch said.

“I have asked the Director of Local Government to seek further information regarding the matters raised.”

‘There is a culture of fear and a culture of bullying’

A LATROBE councillor says a recent survey of council staff by the Australian Services Union has backed up the serious workplace issues he has been raising for years in terms of staff turnover, the real cost of resource sharing and bullying.

The ASU has labelled the workplace culture at both the Latrobe and Kentish councils “toxic” on the back of the survey prompted by concerns raised by Cr Shayne Allison.

The union said if matters were not addressed internally immediately it could take the matter to WorkSafe Tasmania and the Fair Work Commission.

Cr Allison said it was time to open up both councils, and Tasmanian local government as a whole, to scrutiny and a royal commission could ultimately be needed to do that.

“There have been 45 staff leave in the two years and 10 months I have been on Latrobe Council,” Cr Allison said.

“There is a culture of fear and a culture of bullying. Workers like the former workplace health and safety officer have been driven out over such trivial things as a $176 pair of safety boots.

“Resource sharing between the two councils has seen the budgeted wage bill be exceeded by $1m over two years yet staff are overworked and leaving in droves.

“I have asked for a meeting to be held just among the councillors without management present but that has been refused.”

Latrobe councillor Shayne Allison.

The union survey found 84 per cent of respondents had been bullied in the workplace.

It also revealed more than 90 per cent believed working at the councils had negatively affected the health of their colleagues and more than a third took time off in the past year due to poor health they attributed to their work life.

Latrobe Mayor Peter Freshney denied his council had a toxic culture and said it was important to note only 25 per cent of staff had taken part in the survey.

Cr Freshney said he was committed to building better relationships within the workforce and both councils intended to work with the ASU to better understand the data and put responses in place.

“We have also put out an open invitation to the ASU to collaborate and conduct a survey of 100 per cent of the workforce to better understand all the issues,” Cr Freshney said.

“It is time to put away the combative approach and put the staff first.”

Latrobe mayor Peter Freshney denied his council had a toxic culture. Picture: GRANT WELLS

A Kentish Council spokesman said the council took the allegations being made very seriously.

“Both Latrobe and Kentish councils have a single workforce as part of the shared services agreement. Based on the material ASU have provided it’s impossible to quantify the survey results as it’s unknown how many were surveyed, which council they were employed at, if they worked inside or outside, gender and when survey was conducted,” he said.

“Until we have clarification on those matters, it’s impossible to quantify ASU’s claims.”

ASU secretary Lisa Darmanin said both councils had failed in their obligation to provide a safe workplace for employees and needed to take immediate steps to change the culture.

“Every worker has a right to a safe workplace that does not cause them physical, emotional or

psychological harm,” Ms Darmanin said.

She called the survey results scandalous.

“Bullying has gone unchecked by management for too long and the councils need to conduct an independent cultural assessment study of the organisation immediately,” she said.

The union wants the councils to ask Tasmania’s Anti-Discrimination Commissioner to conduct a formal workplace investigation.